The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reportedly informed former captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli that participation in the Vijay Hazare Trophy is mandatory if they wish to continue representing India in international cricket. Both players retired from T20Is on June 29, 2024, and later announced their retirement from Test cricket in May 2025.
Currently active only in ODIs, Rohit and Kohli last featured for India in the three-match series against Australia in October 2025, which the hosts lost 1-2. Rohit impressed with a half-century in the second match and an unbeaten hundred in the third, while Kohli also registered a fifty in the final ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25.
“The board and team management have conveyed to both of them that they will have to play domestic cricket if they want to play for India. As they both have retired from two formats, they have to play domestic cricket to be match-fit,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
According to the report, Rohit Sharma has informed the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) of his availability for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, Virat Kohli’s participation in the tournament remains uncertain.
Virat Kohli Last Played Vijay Hazare Trophy In 2010 As Delhi Captain
Virat Kohli, the second-highest run-scorer in ODI cricket, last appeared in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on February 18, 2010, representing Delhi against Services. He captained the side in that match, which also featured current BCCI president Mithun Manhas and former India opener Shikhar Dhawan in Delhi’s lineup.
Reports suggest that Rohit Sharma has also conveyed to the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) his availability for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 (SMAT) tournament, set to begin on November 26. However, his participation appears unlikely, as he is expected to feature in the India–South Africa ODI series starting November 30 in Ranchi.
Although the BCCI selectors have yet to announce the squad for the three-match ODI series against the Proteas, Rohit’s omission seems highly improbable. The veteran opener was recently named Player of the Series in Australia and climbed to the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings on October 29.
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